No
way!!! It’s already been 10 years since I spun the innovative
and fresh BD001, (‘Misanthropic’ by ‘Alpha Prhyme’),
Big Dada’s first release. Since then, Big Dada has gone
from strength to strength, releasing nearly 40 albums of the UK’s
and North America’s finest ‘underground’ (i.e.
innovative and unwilling to succumb to formulaic mainstream norms)
artists.
Big Dada was started when music-journo Will Ashon approached Peter
Quicke (head of Ninja Tune) to suggest a hip-hop label to run
alongside but independently from Ninja Tune. Ashon envisaged the
label as a home for musical misfits and pioneers, for those who
were more interested in producing something worthwhile than necessarily
having a hit. He succeeded, much to the enjoyment of thousands
of real hip-hop fans that prefer intelligent, insightful lyrics
complete with intricately produced beats and challenging soundscapes
instead of stereotypical ghat/ho’/cash lyrics and lazy looped
instrumentals. ‘Well Deep’ is the lavish celebration
of Big Dada reaching its 10th birthday, which is no mean-feat
in today’s fast-moving and musically promiscuous society.
Over the course of 2 cd’s and 31 tracks, listeners are treated
to the cream of Big Dada’s roster which features tracks
released from their inception, 1999, to tracks off June 2007’s
Wiley album. From the warping beats and authoritative flow of
Rooty-Tute-Manuva, the leftfield guitar indie-orientated psyche-rap
of cLOUDDEAD, the lush instrumentation and rasta-leanings of New
Flesh, the r’n’b tinged intelligent social commentary
of Ty to the grimey eski-beat experiments of Wiley, there is something
for fans of all hip-hop. What is really special about this collection
is that it gives the opportunity to listen to and explore some
of the lesser known acts. TTc are one such act. A uniquely funky
Parisian trio combining multi-faceted electronic soundscapes with
delightful and contrasting French-language rapping. Florida’s
‘Diplo’ is another artist who has carved an instrumental
orientated hip-hop niche yet hasn’t received much exposure
outside the specialist press. Surprisingly, the irrepressible
Vybz Kartel pops up on his fluctuating, snare heavy ‘Dilpo
Rhythm’. Another nice revelation is ‘Spank Rock’,
a US based artist and purveyor of beefy sounding yet intricately
arranged porn-rocked influenced hip-hop. There ‘Sweet Talk’
track wouldn’t sound out of place in the Ba-Da-Bing. Then
there’s ‘Part 2’, who provides a bouncy, fresh
and innovative dubby r’n’b cut which has a dancehall
sensibility and features mind expanding, oscillating electronic
effects.
On the downside there’s a number of classic tracks missing
from this 31 track monolith. Where is ‘Motion 5000’,
possibly Roots Manuva’s finest track? Where is the mind-bending
‘Fazers’ or ‘I Wonder’ by the leftfield
art-hoppers ‘King Geedorah feat. MF Doom’? Where is
the challenging and penetrating ‘Zero Gravity’ or
‘Nobert & Cecil’ by New Flesh???? On the plus
side, these missing gems will give listeners the prospect of uncovering
them after hearing about the artist on this showcase release.
This is a highly quality, well packaged ‘statement of intent’
from hip-hops more inventive yet lesser known stars. Although
many who are reading this will own some Big Dada releases, this
release will open up the skills of a whole range of diverse artists
that you, the listener, may not have heard of. For those collectors
who possess all the albums, this is still worth copping as there
is a number of remixes and exclusives featured (i.e. Peel session
by cLOUDDEAD, remix of Wiley’s new single). Also available
separately is an extremely comprehensive DVD which features a
30 minute Big Dada documentary, 30+ artist videos and some extra
special features. No true hip-hop fans shelf should be without
this. (AM)
For fans of: Big Dada roster, Innovative fresh hip-hop
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